1. 2012 Honda Fit
Reviewers said the 2012 Honda Fit’s four-cylinder engine feels lively around town, but that the Fit can be slow to accelerate and pass other vehicles on the highway. Test drivers said the standard five-speed manual transmission is fun to shift and makes the best use of the engine’s power. However, the Fit feels less peppy with the available five-speed automatic transmission, they added. Equipped with an automatic transmission, the Fit gets an EPA-estimated 28/35 mpg city/highway, which is great for the class. Auto writers said the Fit has responsive steering and agile handling around corners, and that its compact size makes it easy to drive in the city. The ride is generally composed, they added, though a few critics noted that it can feel harsh in the Sport trim.
Test drivers said 2012 Honda Fit’s cabin is constructed with basic materials, but said its eye-catching design and accent lighting make it look cheerful. They wrote that the Fit’s front seats offer generous head- and legroom and are set high for good visibility. The Fit also earned praise for the amount of head- and legroom in the back seat. With the rear seats folded, the Fit has an exceptional amount of cargo space for a subcompact car, with 57.3 cubic feet of space. Critics liked that the Fit’s front passenger seat and rear Magic Seat can be folded multiple ways to allow for cargo of different sizes and shapes. The base 2012 Fit comes with air conditioning, cruise control, a four-speaker CD audio system, a USB port and power windows and door locks. Optional features when it was new include Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a voice-controlled navigation system. Auto writers found the Fit’s audio and climate controls easy to reach and simple to use.
2. 2010 Toyota Prius
On the downside, the 2010 Toyota Prius’ styling, though easily recognizable, is not considered attractive by the automotive press. Some reviewers also disliked the Prius’ small wheels, which they said made the car feel unstable and contributed to more road noise. A few also noted that the Prius’ steering felt artificial.
The 2010 Toyota Prius has a four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. Power is sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). A four-speaker stereo and push-button start are among the Prius’ standard features. Higher trim levels and option packages add features like Bluetooth, an upgraded stereo, leather, heated front seats and navigation. Seven airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control are included as standard safety equipment on the 2010 Prius.
3. 2012 Honda Civic
The front-wheel-drive 2012 Civic has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 140 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission comes standard, and a five-speed automatic transmission is available. The engine is refined and it provides the Civic with adequate power around town and at highway speeds. The automatic transmission changes gears smoothly, and the manual gearbox is a breeze to shift.Z Drivers will need to select the Econ mode in order to net the Civic’s best fuel economy. The Civic Si takes it in a different direction with its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. This 201-horsepower engine feels brawnier than its power rating suggests, and it confidently hustles the Si up to speed.
Regardless of engine choice, the Civic offers some of the best driving dynamics in its class. The Honda remains stable when rounding turns. The power steering may feel a bit light for some tastes. The Civic gets great fuel economy for a compact car. It can hit 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway when equipped with its automatic transmission, or 28/39 mpg with the Civic HF. The manual transmission lowers this rating to 28/35 mpg, and the Civic Si returns 22/31 mpg.
4. 2013 Kia Rio
Reviewers said the 2012 Honda Fit’s four-cylinder engine feels lively around town, but that the Fit can be slow to accelerate and pass other vehicles on the highway. Test drivers said the standard five-speed manual transmission is fun to shift and makes the best use of the engine’s power. However, the Fit feels less peppy with the available five-speed automatic transmission, they added. Equipped with an automatic transmission, the Fit gets an EPA-estimated 28/35 mpg city/highway, which is great for the class. Auto writers said the Fit has responsive steering and agile handling around corners, and that its compact size makes it easy to drive in the city. The ride is generally composed, they added, though a few critics noted that it can feel harsh in the Sport trim.
Test drivers said 2012 Honda Fit’s cabin is constructed with basic materials, but said its eye-catching design and accent lighting make it look cheerful. They wrote that the Fit’s front seats offer generous head- and legroom and are set high for good visibility. The Fit also earned praise for the amount of head- and legroom in the back seat. With the rear seats folded, the Fit has an exceptional amount of cargo space for a subcompact car, with 57.3 cubic feet of space. Critics liked that the Fit’s front passenger seat and rear Magic Seat can be folded multiple ways to allow for cargo of different sizes and shapes. The base 2012 Fit comes with air conditioning, cruise control, a four-speaker CD audio system, a USB port and power windows and door locks. Optional features when it was new include Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a voice-controlled navigation system. Auto writers found the Fit’s audio and climate controls easy to reach and simple to use.
2. 2010 Toyota Prius
On the downside, the 2010 Toyota Prius’ styling, though easily recognizable, is not considered attractive by the automotive press. Some reviewers also disliked the Prius’ small wheels, which they said made the car feel unstable and contributed to more road noise. A few also noted that the Prius’ steering felt artificial.
The 2010 Toyota Prius has a four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. Power is sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). A four-speaker stereo and push-button start are among the Prius’ standard features. Higher trim levels and option packages add features like Bluetooth, an upgraded stereo, leather, heated front seats and navigation. Seven airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control are included as standard safety equipment on the 2010 Prius.
3. 2012 Honda Civic
The front-wheel-drive 2012 Civic has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 140 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission comes standard, and a five-speed automatic transmission is available. The engine is refined and it provides the Civic with adequate power around town and at highway speeds. The automatic transmission changes gears smoothly, and the manual gearbox is a breeze to shift.Z Drivers will need to select the Econ mode in order to net the Civic’s best fuel economy. The Civic Si takes it in a different direction with its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. This 201-horsepower engine feels brawnier than its power rating suggests, and it confidently hustles the Si up to speed.
Regardless of engine choice, the Civic offers some of the best driving dynamics in its class. The Honda remains stable when rounding turns. The power steering may feel a bit light for some tastes. The Civic gets great fuel economy for a compact car. It can hit 28 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway when equipped with its automatic transmission, or 28/39 mpg with the Civic HF. The manual transmission lowers this rating to 28/35 mpg, and the Civic Si returns 22/31 mpg.
4. 2013 Kia Rio
The 2013 Kia Rio is a good used subcompact car that provides a combination of factors few rivals offer. While it’s not the most fun-to-drive car in the segment, the Kia Rio has satisfactory engine power, is easy to maneuver through turns, and has a pleasant ride for day-to-day driving.
The front-wheel-drive 2013 Kia Rio has a 138-horsepower four-cylinder engine that isn’t particularly strong but has sufficient power for highway commuting. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a quick, smooth-shifting six-speed automatic is available. With the automatic transmission, the Rio achieves 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, which is on par with rivals’ fuel economy estimates. The Rio’s ride is well-balanced between comfort and composure, and its steering is accurate.
The Kia Rio is available as a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback. Its cabin is good-looking and built with a mix of class-appropriate hard and soft materials. The front seats are supportive and offer a good amount of head- and legroom. The Rio doesn’t offer much headroom for tall passengers in the rear, which is the case with most subcompact cars. The rear outboard seats have full sets of LATCH connectors for child safety seats, while the rear middle seat has an upper tether anchor. The Kia Rio sedan has a competitive amount of trunk space, at 13.7 cubic feet. The Kia Rio hatchback has more cargo space than competing hatchbacks, with a maximum of 49.8 cubic feet.
The Rio comes well-equipped with a USB port, an auxiliary input jack, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Navigation, Bluetooth, and Kia’s UVO infotainment system are available. The Rio’s standard dashboard controls are straightforward, and the available UVO infotainment system has better voice recognition than some competitors’ systems. The touch screen is well-organized and easy to maneuver.
5. 2009 Scion XB
If you’re considering a 2009 Scion xB, you might be drawn to its quirky styling. A large cabin with comfortable seating for five and plenty of cargo space proves that the beauty of the xB isn’t just skin-deep.
The highly-ranked xB has strong safety scores. It’s well-stocked with standard interior amenities like air conditioning and it gets a standard 160-watt Pioneer stereo with a USB port. A touch-screen navigation system and an upgraded Pioneer stereo were optional when it was new. The xB also has uncommon-for-the-class standard safety equipment like electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution.
The xB comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that has more horsepower than most small cars’ base engines. Although reviewers thought the engine is peppy, its square body design and high-for-the-class horsepower rating mean it doesn’t get the best gas mileage. It averages just 22/28 mpg city/highway, which is low for the class. Overall, reviewers had few complaints with the xB’s performance, but noted its boxy shape makes it feel tippy when rounding corners.